Hydra Broodmaster MTG Card


Hydra Broodmaster excels by converting mana surplus into a horde of hefty Hydra tokens, giving players a card advantage. Monstrosity can be activated at instant speed, allowing for strategic and unexpected battlefield expansion when needed. A key piece in green-centric strategies, it thrives in metas where creature size and board presence are crucial.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Hydra
Abilities Monstrosity
Power 7
Toughness 7

Text of card

: Monstrosity X. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put X +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.) When Hydra Broodmaster becomes monstrous, put X X/X green Hydra creature tokens onto the battlefield.


Cards like Hydra Broodmaster

The Hydra Broodmaster is a formidable presence on the battlefield, similar to other monstrosities within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. When held up against cards like Polukranos, World Eater, there’s a noticeable synergy in their monstrous mechanics. Both have the ability to become significantly larger and more threatening as the game progresses. However, Hydra Broodmaster prevails in its unique ability to not only become gargantuan itself but to also fill the board with a legion of mighty Hydra offspring.

Contrasting the Broodmaster with Progenitor Mimic reveals different strategic advantages. The Mimic can copy any creature on the battlefield, repeatedly at the beginning of your upkeep, which includes duplicating the Hydra Broodmaster’s myriad of tokens if it copies a token. Still, it lacks the original’s sheer token-generating power.

Looking at Heroes’ Bane, another comparable Hydra creature, we notice that it can also increase its power and toughness exponentially. Nevertheless, it does not share the Broodmaster’s capability to flood the battlefield with a swarm of tokens, a strategy that can overwhelm opponents who are not prepared for a multitude of threats. In essence, Hydra Broodmaster stands out with its ability to create wide, game-ending board states.

Polukranos, World Eater - MTG Card versions
Progenitor Mimic - MTG Card versions
Heroes' Bane - MTG Card versions
Polukranos, World Eater - MTG Card versions
Progenitor Mimic - MTG Card versions
Heroes' Bane - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hydra Broodmaster by color, type and mana cost

Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Ancient Silverback - MTG Card versions
Sulam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions
Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions
Gang of Elk - MTG Card versions
Kavu Howler - MTG Card versions
Crashing Centaur - MTG Card versions
Giant Warthog - MTG Card versions
Rhox - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions
Terra Stomper - MTG Card versions
Feral Throwback - MTG Card versions
Brontotherium - MTG Card versions
Elvish Aberration - MTG Card versions
Force of Nature - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Fangren Pathcutter - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Ancient Silverback - MTG Card versions
Sulam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions
Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions
Gang of Elk - MTG Card versions
Kavu Howler - MTG Card versions
Crashing Centaur - MTG Card versions
Giant Warthog - MTG Card versions
Rhox - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions
Terra Stomper - MTG Card versions
Feral Throwback - MTG Card versions
Brontotherium - MTG Card versions
Elvish Aberration - MTG Card versions
Force of Nature - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Fangren Pathcutter - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hydra Broodmaster can create multiple creature tokens with its monstrosity ability, potentially filling the board with large creatures and providing significant card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: When paired with ramp spells or mana-generating creatures, Hydra Broodmaster allows you to utilize excess mana efficiently, accelerating your resources and placing considerable pressure on your opponent.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the monstrosity ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions by creating a formidable board presence at the most opportune time.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Often, powerful creatures come with a catch, and in the case of Hydra Broodmaster, keeping your hand filled can be challenging. Without other cards that supplement your hand, the discard requirement to fuel its monstrous ability may leave you at a disadvantage, unable to respond to opponents’ threats.

Specific Mana Cost: Hydra Broodmaster not only demands green mana but a substantial amount of it. Its particular needs make it less flexible, potentially pigeonholing your deck into green-centric strategies or requiring a more complex mana base to reliably cast it on time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment to get Hydra Broodmaster onto the battlefield is heavy, and leveraging its monstrous ability requires even more resources. Given the fast pace of many MTG games, it may arrive too late or consume too much of your mana, impeding your ability to play other spells. Other creatures or cards could offer more immediate board presence or effects for a lower cost, making them potentially more advantageous choices in a match.


Reasons to Include Hydra Broodmaster in Your Collection

Versatility: Hydra Broodmaster’s adaptability in various green-centric ramp or monster decks is a key asset. As a late-game mana sink, it can turn excessive lands or resources into a formidable army of Hydra tokens, making it a flexible threat in multiple board scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with effects that double token production or enhance +1/+1 counters, making it a linchpin for explosive turns where your board state can massively expand out of nowhere, overwhelming opponents quickly.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where board presence and creature size matter, Hydra Broodmaster can dominate. It shines in environments where it’s able to grow unchecked, becoming a must-answer creature that, if left on the field, can end games on its own.


How to beat Hydra Broodmaster

Hydra Broodmaster is an imposing creature in MTG that can quickly overwhelm opponents with a legion of monstrous tokens. To tackle this giant, efficient removal is key. Cards like Path to Exile, Assassin’s Trophy, or even board wipes like Damnation can take care of Hydra Broodmaster before its monstrous ability becomes a problem.

Counterplay strategies involve keeping mana open to disrupt the Monstrosity activation through counterspells such as Negate or Essence Scatter. It’s also beneficial to limit the Hydra’s ability to multiply by applying pressure early in the game, forcing the opposing player to use mana defensively rather than investing in their Broodmaster’s growth.

Lastly, keeping a diverse set of answers in your deck to combat creatures of this magnitude is crucial. This could include enchantments like Pacifism to prevent it from attacking or using cards that reduce its power and toughness. With careful planning and the right tools, navigating a win against the Hydra Broodmaster becomes a manageable feat.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the depth of MTG strategy, Hydra Broodmaster stands as a beacon of potential in green-centric decks. With its remarkable ability to dominate the late game, this card can be the cornerstone of your collection, evolving your play style to potentially overpower your opponents. Whether you aim to strengthen your board control or simply seek awe-inspiring game-ending plays, Hydra Broodmaster could be the ace up your sleeve. We encourage you to explore its capabilities and the vast world of MTG synergies it unlocks. Enrich your deck with Hydra Broodmaster and embrace the monsters within. For more strategic insights and ways to make your deck a bane for any adversary, join our community and turn the tides of battle in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hydra Broodmaster MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Journey into Nyx, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Hydra Broodmaster and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hydra Broodmaster Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-05-02 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 538502015NormalBlackVincent Proce
22014-05-02Journey into NyxJOU 1282003NormalBlackSteve Prescott
32021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1942015NormalBlackVincent Proce
42024-06-14Modern Horizons 3 CommanderM3C 2332015NormalBlackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hydra Broodmaster has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hydra Broodmaster card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2014-04-26 An ability that triggers when a creature becomes monstrous won't trigger if that creature isn't on the battlefield when its monstrosity ability resolves.
2014-04-26 Monstrous isn't an ability that a creature has. It's just something true about that creature. If the creature stops being a creature or loses its abilities, it will continue to be monstrous.
2014-04-26 Once a creature becomes monstrous, it can't become monstrous again. If the creature is already monstrous when the monstrosity ability resolves, nothing happens.
2014-04-26 The value of each X in Hydra Broodmaster's last ability is equal to the value chosen for X when its monstrosity ability was activated.